A Technology Christmas Miracle
When I was nine years old, the one thing I wanted more than anything was a computer—specifically, the RadioShack TRS-80 Color Computer. Little did I know that owning this piece of technology would change the course of my life in countless ways.
Recently, I was Googling the price of a TRS-80 computer and its equivalent value in today’s currency. It turns out that a $399 TRS-80 computer in 1980 equates to approximately $1,500 today. This is important to understand because my family was poor, so the thought of my grandmother raising the funds to buy this piece of equipment seemed, to say the least, impossible—if not miraculous.
Christmas Day 1980 arrived, and sitting under the tree wrapped in 1970s-style wrapping paper was a box whose shape looked eerily familiar. Could it be? Could Santa have made my dream a reality? As I tore into the package, with wrapping paper flying like something out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon, excitement enveloped me.
And there it was, in all its glory—the TRS-80 Color Computer.
At the time, I didn’t truly understand what a computer was, except that it did “stuff.” I had no idea where to start, but fortunately, there was a manual—a 300-page guide. And right there on the first page was the answer to all my questions: “How do you talk to a computer?”
I spent hours, days, and weeks combing through all 300 pages of that manual, teaching myself BASIC coding. I went from a complete novice to writing a program that created a talking robot. From that point onward, I always had a computer. How I used it evolved over time, becoming a natural part of my day-to-day life without me even realizing it.
Fast forward 15 years: I had graduated from university, dabbled in acting, and found myself between gigs. Naturally, I turned to what I knew best: computing. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate the direct correlation between being computer-literate in the 1990s and the opportunities I would encounter. My first technology project was with the Los Angeles Times, helping them implement their new classified ordering system. That project marked the beginning of my training career.
My technology skills eventually led me to deliver web development training in New York, move to the UK, and work as a technology trainer for multinational companies—all while traveling across the globe. The person I am today is the result of the people I’ve met, the countries I’ve visited, and the knowledge I’ve gained—none of which would have been possible without that TRS-80 and the sacrifice my grandmother made to buy it.
I often wonder if my grandmother realized that by making that single purchase, she was opening up an entirely new and unimaginable world for me. Now, I want to do for others what my grandmother did for me. I want to open a world of possibilities to children who may not have the means. That’s why I launched the TechArts Empowerment Foundation. Through this charity, I aim to bridge the arts and digital education skills gap among marginalized youth and give them a chance to change the course of their lives.
This year, we conducted our first coding workshop, and we have even more planned for next year, including a robotics workshop. Right now, we are raising funds to run four workshops next year and purchase much-needed equipment, including Chromebooks and robotics kits. You can help us by visiting our fundraising page and donating: https://www.techartsfoundation.org/2024-fundraiser.
I know that not every child who walks through our doors will go on to a career in technology or the arts, but the knowledge gained through our workshops will provide them with transferable skills that are highly marketable in today’s workforce but more importantly I hope that our workshops spark a lifelong sense of curiosity. That, in a nutshell, is why I do this work: to open up a whole new and unimaginable world of possibilities for our students.
If you found this story inspiring, please pass on my message to others in your circle that may be interested. Here’s hoping you and yours have a wonderful holiday.
